WE SHOULD PROTECT EACH OTHER RATHER THAN GUARDING AGAINST EACH OTHER

Making a statement to the journal Ta Nea published in Athens, Minister for EU Affairs and the Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis gave the message to the Greece that the allied countries shouldn't be afraid of each other and recommended to decrease the armament.

In his press statement, Bagis touched upon the relations between Turkey and Greece, decrease the armament, Turkey's EU process and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Athens.

Stating that we should make expenditure as much as our allies did for armament and that we should take steps for the mutual restriction of the armaments, and adding that we could achieve that target, Bagis said that one of the reasons for the economic crisis in Greece was the armament.

Minister Bagis said that instead of guarding ourselves against each other, we should protect each other.

Stating that everything was possible in the meeting that would be held in Athens between Yorgo Papandreu, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bagis said that Prime Minister Erdogan was a man of action, and added that he proved that fact. Bagis said that Erdogan was approaching seriously to both domestic and foreign affairs and added that he was going to Athens with a full agenda.

Regarding the cooperation in the field of tourism, Bagis put forth his wish about Aegean region's transforming from a region of ‘dog fight' into a region of peace and tourism. Stating that both countries have the will of working more systematically in the field of tourism, and adding that Turkey brought forward the idea of lifting the visas implemented towards the Turkish tourists who would visit the Aegean islands, Bagis said: "I wish the visa implementation is removed".

Egemen Bagis said: "We won't have a chance with Papandreu and Erdogan like the current one. The two leaders are desirous to carry out certain activities and we should support these two leaders"

Source: AA